Generator for acetylene gas



(No Model.)

B. F, WILLIAMS. GENERATOR FOR AGBTYLENE GAS,

Patented Nov. 16, 1897'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT IEEICE.

BENJAMIN-F. WILLIAMS, or QUANAH, TEXAS.

GENERATOR FOR ACETYLENE GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,628, dated November 16, 1897. Application filed November 18,1896. Serial N5. 612,582. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. WILLIAMS, residing at Quauah, in the county of Hardeman and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Generator for Acetylene Gas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to gas-generators, and more particularly to one intended for the generation of acetylene gas.

The object of my invention is to provide a combined generator and reservoir, said generator being automatic inits action through accident.

the medium of the reservoir-that is, when the reservoir is filled the generator Will be prevented from operating,and reversely when the reservoir becomes emptied the generator is automatically thrown into operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a generator which shall be absolutely safe at all times, thereby preventing any possibility of an explosion. With these various objects in view my invention consists, essentially, of a generatingchamber and a receiving chamber or reservoir and an adjustable support or holder for the carbid of calcium, said support or holder being connected with the reservoir, so that as the upper section of said reservoir rises and falls the said support or holder will be raised or lowered in'ordcr to lift the carbid from the water or place the same therein.

The invention consists also in providing a catch basin or receptacle above the generating-chamber for the purpose of enabling the water to be forced out from-the generatingchamber by surplus pressure in case a stoppage in the outlet-pipes should occur at any time, thereby preventing all possibility of an The invention consists also in certain details of construction and novelties of combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the generator and gasometer or reservoir connected. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the said generator and gasometer or reservoir. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the bottom of the carbid-holder. Fig. 4: is a detail view of the top of the holder, and Fig. 5

metal, closed at the bottom and provided with a glass sight B. The top of the generatingchamber A is provided with an external flange B,upon which rests the top 0 of the generator, said top being clamped to the flange B by means of the clamps G. A discharge-tube D is fitted in the top 0, and to which is connected the gas pipe or tube E, which leads to the reservoir or gasometer hereinafter referred to. An overflow pipe or tube F also passes down through the top 0 and extends downward into the generator below the center of the same, so that when the said generator is half filled with water the lower end of said overflow-tube will be sealed. A catch basin or receptable G is mounted upon the upper end of the overflow pipe or tube F, and leading from the said tube or pipe F into the. said catchbasin are the discharge spouts or nozzles H, having flap-valves H at their ends, said ends being beveled, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5, so that "water may be readily forced from the nozzle or spout H into the catch basin or receptacle G, but cannot flow back again, inasmuch as the said flap-valve will automatic'ally close and prevent the return of such water.

The gas reservoir or gasometer consists of the lower section K, closed at the bottom and filled wit-h water nearly to the top, and an upper section K, telescoping within the lower section, opened at the bottom and closed at the top, such being the usual or ordinary construction of gasome'ters. An inlet-pipe L extends upward through the lower section, said inlet-pipe being connected with the pipe E in any suitable manner, and this inlet-pipe L is provided with a depending section L, by means of which the Water of condensation and gas can be drawn oft. An outlet-pipe M is arranged also within the lower section parallel to the inlet-pipe, and is also provided with a depending section M, and leading from the lower end of the outlet-pipe M is a delivery-pipe N, which leads to the burner, said pipe being provided with any suitable construction of cut-oft valve N. A horizontal arm 0 is attached to the upper end of the upper section of the gasometer, and depending from the said arm is achain or cord 0, to

which is attached a supporting-rod P, said rod extending down through the discharge or overflow pipe F and within the generator is formed with a return-bend P, and upon the upper end of said bent end is arranged a holder or receptacle R for containing the carbid of calcium, said receptacle having a foraminous bottom R and a cover R the sides of said cover being corrugated or fluted, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4. An adj ustingcollar S, provided with a set-screw S, is arranged upon the supporting-rod P and by means of which the position of the holder within the generator can be regulated, inasmuch as the said collar can be clamped to the supporting-rod and the said rod lowered until the collar rests upon the top of the discharge or overflow pipe F.

Now in operation the generator is arranged and connected substantially the same as shown in Figs. 1. and 2, and when the apparatus is set up it will of course be understood that the holder containing the carbid is elevated to its highest point, so that there is no possible danger of the water coming in contact with the carbid. After the apparatus has been properly assembled the adjustable collar is released and the supporting-rod, together with the holder and carbid of calcium, is lowered into the water contained in the generator, so as to go down about one-fourth of an inch, which can be seen through the glass sights. The collar is then tightened. The moment the carbid comes in contact with the water the acetylene gas is generated, which gas passes off through the pipes Dand E to the pipe L into the reservoir or gasometer. This continues until the upper section is elevated by the accumulation of gas within the reservoir, and as the upper section K is raised the supporting-rod P will of course be drawn up through the discharge or overflow pipe F, and should the upper section K continue to rise the holder will be entirely withdrawn from the water, thereby cutting oh? the generation of the acetylene gas. As soon as any of the gas is used from the gasometer or reservoir the upper section immediately falls, thus lowering the holder into the water and automaticallysetting the generatorinto operation again. The apparatus continues in this manner until the carbid has been completely exhausted, thereby requiring little or no attention whatever, inasmuch as the apparatus is thoroughly automatic in all of its workings.

Should the discharge-pipes leading from the generator become clogged from any cause whatever, an explosion is avoided by having the overflow or discharge pipe F leading into the catch-basin G, inasmuch as the surplus gas pressure contained in the generator would force the water up through the said tube and discharge into the catch-basin G, from which it cannot return, and the water in this manner will be lowered away from the carbid.

It will thus be seen that I provide an apparatus which is not only simple and automatic in its action, but one which is absolutely safe at all times.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a generatonand an overflow leading therefrom, of a supportingrod projecting through the overflow, a carbid-holder on the lower end of the rod, and means for limiting the movement of the rod in the overflow, substantially as described.

2. In a generator for acetylene gas comprising a chamber, an overflow-pipe leading out of the chamber and provided at its upper end with a catch-basin, a supporting-rod projecting through the overflow-pipe, a carbidholder on the lower end of the rod, and means for limiting the downward movement of the rod in the overflow-pipe, substantially as set forth.

3. In a generator for acetylene gas, the combination with a chamber, of an overflow-pipe leading out of the chamber, and provided with a valved outlet, and a catch-basin on the overflo w-pipe and into which the overflowpipe discharges, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination with the generator, of the overflow or discharge pipe leading therefrom, the catch-basin or receptacle mounted upon the said overflow or discharge pipe, the supporting-rod and carbid-holder all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination with the generator constructed as described, of the overflow or discharge pipe leading therefrom, the catchbasin or receptacle, said overflow or discharge pipe being provided with laterally-projecting spouts or nozzles having beveled ends provided with flap-valves substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination with the generator,constructed as described, of the overflow or discharge pipe leading therefrom, the catchbasin or receptacle arranged upon the upper end of said pipe, the laterally projecting spouts or nozzles having their flap-valves, as described, the supporting-rod and adjustable collar, the carbid-holder, the movable section of the reservoir or gasometer, the chain connecting the supporting-rod to the arm carried by the said movable section and the inlet and outlet pipes, and connecting-pipes all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as shown and described.

BENJAMIN F. \VILLIAMS.

\Vitnesses:

J. O. FERGUSON, G. H. JOHNSON. 

